24. Alexander Volkanovski

Explicit content warning

09/08/21 • 55 min

Alexander Volkanovski is an Australian MMA fighter and World Featherweight Champion who has transformed from a 96kg high-speed bowling ball to the greatest 145lb (65.8kg) high octane athlete on the globe. First announced to the world in 2016 when he made his UFC debut in Melbourne, Alexander ‘The Great’ Volkanovski, is creating an unrivalled legacy in the world of MMA, a sport he only decided to take up at the age of 22. In less than ten years he worked his way to World Champ of the featherweight division, is one of the highest-ranked pound-for-pound fighters in the sport and has left a long list of big names in his wake. From humble beginnings to the top of the UFC rankings, Alex’s is a story of hard work, dedication and commitment rivalled by few. Despite the tough exterior, Alex is a true family man, married to his high school sweetheart with two young daughters, his driving force behind the motivation, sacrifice and success.

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23. Nathan Katz

Having won three straight national junior titles between 2012-14, Nathan Katz won the junior Oceania Championship in 2014. He finished ninth at the Junior World Championships in 2015 before winning both the 2015 and 2016 -66kg Oceania Championships to secure his spot on his debut Olympic Team. Leading his opening match in the dying stages, Morocco's Imad Bassou eventually got the better of Katz to progress in the Rio 2016 tournament.

From a family that lives and breathes the sport, Nathan lined up alongside his younger brother Josh in Rio as the duo became the first brothers to compete in judo at the same Games for Australia. Their mother Kerrye competed at the Seoul 1988 Olympics, when judo was a demonstration sport for women, while their father Robert was a coach on that team as well as the Rio 2016 team.

Following Rio, Nathan went on to win the 2017 Oceania Championships and finished runner up at the 2017 Taipai Asian Open. He was also crowned the 2018 and 2019 national champion in the -66kg division. In the lead up to the Tokyo Olympics, Nathan finished in fifth at the 2021 Asia-Oceania Senior Championships.

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25. Craig Fitzgibbon

Craig Fitzgibbon (born 16 June 1977) is an Australian professional rugby league coach and a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s and is the current head coach of Cronulla Sharks.

A New South Wales State of Origin and Australia international representative goal-kicking forward, he played in the NRL for the Illawarra Steelers and St. George Illawarra Dragons as well as for the Sydney Roosters, with whom he won the 2002 NRL Premiership. Fitzgibbon then played in the Super League for Hull FC. He was also the last coach of the Country New South Wales rugby league team.

Craig is one of the best coaches I have ever known and this comes from his deep respect of the players and the game. Enjoy part 1 of this 2 part podcast!